Abstract

The management of inflammatory bowel disease represents a key component of clinical practice for members of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG). There has been considerable progress in management strategies affecting all aspects of clinical care since the publication of previous BSG guidelines in 2004, necessitating the present revision.

Key components of the present document worthy of attention as having been subject to re-assessment, and revision, and having direct impact on practice include:

The data generated by the nationwide audits of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management in the UK in 2006, and 2008.

The publication of ‘Quality Care: service standards for the healthcare of people with IBD’ in 2009.

The introduction of the Montreal classification for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

The revision of recommendations for the use of immunosuppressive therapy.

The detailed analysis, guidelines and recommendations for the safe and appropriate use of biological therapies in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

The reassessment of the role of surgery in disease management, with emphasis on the importance of multi-disciplinary decision-making in complex cases.

The availablity of new data on the role of reconstructive surgery in ulcerative colitis.

The cross-referencing to revised guidelines for colonoscopic surveillance, for the management of metabolic bone disease, and for the care of children with inflammatory bowel disease.

Use of the BSG discussion forum available on the BSG website to enable ongoing feedback on the published document http://www.bsg.org.uk/forum (accessed Oct 2010).

The present document is intended primarily for the use of clinicians in the United Kingdom, and serves to replace the previous BSG guidelines in IBD, while complementing recent consensus statements published by the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) https://www.ecco-ibd.eu/index.php (accessed Oct 2010).

Footnotes

Competing interests Dr Craig Mowat has received support to attend academic meetings from Abbott, Shire, Ferring and UCB, and has sat on advisory boards for Abbott, Shire, and Ferring. He has received honoraria from Schering-Plough, Shire and Ferring for presentations at academic meetings. Dr A.T. Cole has received educational grants from Abbott, Scherring-Plough, Ferring and Dr Falk Ag in support of conference attendance and to support educational meetings and has been on advisory boards for Schering-Plough and Ferring. Dr Ian Arnott has sat on advisory boards for Abbott and Schering-Plough. He has received support to attend academic meetings from Abbott, Shire, and Proctor and Gamble. He has also received honoraria from Abbott, Schering-Plough, Shire and Ferring for presentations at academic meetings. Professor Jack Satsangi has acted as a consultant to Schering-Plough, Abbott, UCB, Shire and Ferring, and has on-going research support from Novartis and Genentech. Dr Matt Rutter has received support to attend academic meetings from Abbott, Shire and Proctor and Gamble. He has also received honoraria from Shire, Proctor and Gamble, and Ferring for presentations at academic meetings. Dr Tim Orchard has sat on advisory boards for, and has received support to attend academic meetings from Abbott, Schering-Plough, Dr Falk Pharma, Ferring, Procter and Gamble, Shire and UCB. He has received honoraria from Ferring, Abbott, Schering-Plough, Procter and Gamble, and Shire. He has on-going research support form Johnson and Johnson. Dr Gwo-Tzer Ho has received support to attend academic meetings from Abbott, Schering-Plough, Shire, and Proctor and Gamble. He has also received honoraria from Abbott, Shire, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and Astra Zeneca for presentations at academic meetings. Dr Charlie Lees has acted as a consultant to Abbott and Dr Falk, and received honoraria from Shire, Procter and Gamble, Ferring, and Schering-Plough for presentations at academic meetings. Mr Alastair Windsor has received support to attend academic meetings from Proctor and Gamble. He has sat on advisory boards for Procter and Gamble and Ferring. He has also received honoraria from Abbott, Proctor and Gamble, and Ferring for presentations at academic meetings. Dr Stuart Bloom has acted as a consultant for and sat on advisory boards for Abbott, Shering-Plough, Shire, Ferring, Proctor and Gamble. He has received honoraria from Shering-Plough for chairing symposia.

Request permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.